Joyce to face leadership challenge

UPDATE 4.20pm: BARNABY Joyce could be facing a leadership challenge as soon as next week, after a Nationals MP confirmed he would move a motion to remove him as their leader.

Member for Mallee Andrew Broad has called for Mr Joyce to quit as party leader and sit on the backbench.

Mr Broad said it was clear Mr Joyce was not currently fit for the job and said it was in the national interest for him to stand down as deputy prime minister.

Just hours before the announcement, Member for Maranoa David Littleproud said he believed Mr Joyce's job was not under threat.

"We live in a democracy so someone would have to challenge and then have the numbers, neither of which we have," Mr Littleproud said.

"What happens in his private life is his business, so long as he keeps delivering he'll have the confidence of the party room."

Attention on the scandal flared again this week when the leader of the Western Australian Nationals Mia Davies said Mr Joyce had lost the support of the party in WA.

Mr Littleproud said the branch was entitled to their view but was not represented in Canberra.

"They're an entity on their own, so we'll give their views consideration commensurate to their representation in parliament," Mr Littleproud said.

In a statement, Ms Davies said Mr Joyce had caused "ongoing damage" to the party.

Mr Littleproud, who is the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, said it was time to give Barnaby and his family privacy.

"I'm going to spend my time and energy on the people of Maranoa and the portfolio I've been given," Mr Littleproud said.

INITIAL 12.40pm: Barnaby Joyce has occupied media headlines for weeks but Member for Maranoa David Littleproud believes the Deputy Prime Minister's job is not under threat.

Attention flared up again this week when the leader of the Western Australian Nationals Mia Davies said Mr Joyce had lost the support of the party in WA.

Mr Littleproud said the branch was entitled to their view but was not represented in Canberra.

"They're an entity on their own, so we'll give their views consideration commensurate to their representation in parliament," Mr Littleproud said.

In a statement, Ms Davies said Mr Joyce had caused "ongoing damage" to the party.

But Mr Littleproud, who is the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, said he thought Mr Joyce would retain his position in parliament.

"We live in a democracy so someone would have to challenge and then have the numbers, neither of which we have," Mr Littleproud said.

"What happens in his private life is his business, so long as he keeps delivering he'll have the confidence of the party room."

After two weeks in the spotlight, Mr Littleproud said it was time to give Mr Joyce and his family privacy and get on with governing.

"I haven't spent too much energy on it," Mr Littleproud said.

"I'm going to spend my time and energy on the people of Maranoa and the portfolio I've been given."

The Deputy Prime Minister was thrust into the headlines two weeks ago when news broke the married politician had been having an affair with his former staffer, Vikki Campion, and the pair were expecting a child together.

Mr Joyce is on leave this week, saying he wanted to support his family and partner after intense public scrutiny.